Remote truckers back on the road after safety concerns

In short: 

A major gulf country transport company whose road trains were sidelined over safety and compliance concerns has been allowed to resume operations by the federal regulator.

Hawkins Transport warned the shutdown was costing the business half a million dollars a week and threatened freight services to remote communities.

What's next?

The company has dropped legal proceedings against the regulator and must have its entire fleet inspected to avoid further restrictions.

A major northern Australia transport company sidelined over compliance and safety issues is back on the road after the peak heavy vehicle regulator said it had agreed to address its concerns.

Hawkins Transport operates about 70 road trains delivering cattle and groceries to remote Indigenous communities around Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) suspended the company's entire fleet this month over concerns about Trucking company halt. 

Hawkins Transport's owner, Bradley Hawkins, said the move was costing the business half a million dollars a week.

The move was to be contested in Brisbane’s Supreme Court today, but the regulator lifted the ban overnight, effective immediately.

NHVR’s executive director of statutory compliance, Paul Alsbury, said the decision was carefully considered.

“[NHVR] has lifted prohibition notices issued to Hawkins Transport following an agreement on a pathway to address identified safety and compliance concerns,” Mr Alsbury said.

“The NHVR has carefully considered both the safety risks identified, Hawkins’ ongoing work to remediate, and the importance of reliable freight services to the communities affected.

“The prohibition notices were issued in response to identified safety issues. Since that action was taken, Hawkins Transport has engaged with the NHVR and agreed to a pathway to address those concerns.”

Being one of only two operators servicing the remote top end, community members raised concerns earlier this week that the blanket action would lead to a surge in grocery prices.

The prohibition was first introduced after a series of missed inspections, which Mr Hawkins attributed to a misunderstanding of rules and a lack of staff.

It is understood the company’s entire fleet of road trains will still need to be inspected at the nearest NHVR site in Mount Isa, roughly 500km from its Normanton base to avoid further action.